14.05.2026 19:20
Prof. Dr. Cüneyt Yüksel, Chairman of the TBMM Justice Commission, spoke at the "International Congress on Protection of Personal Data in Police and Criminal Law" held at the Police Academy. Yüksel stated, "Protection of personal data is now a matter of national security and digital sovereignty."
Prof. Dr. Cüneyt Yüksel, Chairman of the TBMM Justice Commission, said in his speech at the "International Congress on the Protection of Personal Data in Police and Criminal Law" organized by the Police Academy that the protection of personal data is no longer just about individual privacy; it has become a strategic area in terms of the rule of law, public order, national security, and digital sovereignty.
The congress was attended by the Chairman of the TBMM Security and Intelligence Commission, the Head of the Police Academy, the President of the Personal Data Protection Authority, members of the high judiciary, academics, and representatives of the law enforcement organization.
Yüksel, speaking at the congress, stated that in the digital age, the power of states is measured not only by physical capacity but also by their ability to ensure digital security, manage data, and protect citizens' fundamental rights.
Yüksel, using the expressions "The issue of personal data protection is not only at the center of individual privacy but also at the heart of the rule of law, public order, and national security," emphasized that the path to being a strong state in many areas from counter-terrorism to cybersecurity now goes through digital security and data security.
"WE SEE SECURITY AS THE GUARANTEE OF FREEDOMS"
Focusing on the security-freedom balance in his speech, Yüksel recalled President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's words, "Rights and freedoms are, in a way, a set of rules that determine the protective area of the individual and ensure individual security," and made the following assessment:
"We do not make a choice between security and freedom; we act with an understanding that sees security as the guarantee of freedoms."
Stating that the Vision of the Century of Türkiye is built on an understanding where justice, legal security, digital transformation, and freedoms are strengthened, Yüksel said that Türkiye has a vision of a state that is strong enough to ensure security and democratic enough to protect freedoms.
"PROTECTION OF PERSONAL DATA IS UNDER CONSTITUTIONAL GUARANTEE"
Yüksel stated that the right to protection of personal data in Türkiye was placed under constitutional guarantee with the regulation added to Article 20 of the Constitution through the 2010 constitutional amendment; subsequently, with the adoption of Law No. 6698 on the Protection of Personal Data, a strong legal infrastructure aimed at protecting individual rights in the digital age was established.
Stating that with the adoption of the Law on the Protection of Personal Data, data processing processes are subject to audit within the framework of the rule of law, Yüksel said that Türkiye has built a strong system that protects individual privacy in the digitalization process.
"NOT EVERYTHING TECHNOLOGICALLY POSSIBLE IS LEGALLY LEGITIMATE"
Making evaluations regarding the processing of personal data in law enforcement activities, Yüksel stated that data processing must have a clear legal basis.
Saying, "Collecting data or storing unlimited data with the thought that it might be necessary in the future is incompatible with the rule of law," Yüksel stated that especially biometric data can only be processed within a clear legal framework and when there is a compelling public need.
Drawing attention to the importance of the principle of proportionality in MOBESE records, facial recognition systems, license plate recognition systems, and biometric databases, Yüksel said that data security is now not only a technical issue but also a matter of national security and public order.
Making evaluations regarding artificial intelligence-supported security systems, Yüksel brought up the question, "Is everything that is technologically possible legally legitimate?" and stated that modern human rights law clearly answers this question with "no."
"DIGITAL SOVEREIGNTY NOW DETERMINES THE STRATEGIC CAPACITY OF STATES"
Drawing attention to the concept of "digital sovereignty" in his speech, Yüksel stated that states that control data, protect their digital infrastructure, and ensure data security gain strategic superiority in the new global order.
Stating that the protection of personal data has become a critical area not only in the context of individual rights but also in terms of economic competition, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence policies, and national sovereignty, Yüksel said that a strong digital legal infrastructure is also one of the fundamental elements of states' digital sovereignty capacity.
"TÜRKİYE AIMS TO BE A LEADING COUNTRY IN THE FORMATION OF DIGITAL LAW"
Also touching upon the European Union's normative regulations in the field of data protection, especially the GDPR, Yüksel stated that Türkiye continues to build a strong data protection system that both considers national security needs and aligns with universal legal principles.
Referring to the case law of the European Court of Human Rights, Yüksel said that the protection of personal data has become one of the fundamental criteria of contemporary democratic states governed by the rule of law.
At the end of his speech, Yüksel used the following expressions: "Türkiye's goal is to be a strong and pioneering country that not only uses technology but also shapes the formation of digital law, ethical standards, and a human-centered security approach."